Illuminating unit for swimming pools



Feb. l0, 1931. E. M. RoTHEN v 1,792,398

ILLUMINATING UNIT Fon SWIMMING PooLs INVENTOR award/V P /776/1 BY n/UWAMM1L ,Y ATTORNEY Patented Feb. l0, 1931 EDWARD M. ROTHEN, F NEWYORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGNOR TO RUSSELL & STOLL COMPANY,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ILLUmNA'rING UNIT ronSWIMMING rooLs i Application filed July 12,

This invention rela-tes to improvements in illuminating units, theinvention being particularlyconstructed for use in illuminating swimmingpools or other bodiesof water.

'5 It' is a. primary object of the invention to provide an illuminatingdevice of this character which can b e used beneath the water levelwithout injury to the light or any of its' connections.

It is a further object to provide a device of the above character inwhich the lighting unit or fixture can be readily removed from itssupport beneath the water level to a point above the water level forre-lamping, repairing or replacing the fixture -or any of its parts.

It is a still further object to provide a light of this character whichwill be cooled by the liquid from theY pool. 20 The above and otherobjects will appear more fully from the following description whenconsidered in connection with the draW-, ings, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view, parts be- 25 ing in elevation, of4one form which my invention may assume, showing the same applied to apool illuminating apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the lamp or fixture and the wallhousing.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view, parts bel ing Vin section,of theconstruction shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail showing the method of attaching the lensand bezel to the light casing.

The present invention is shown asapplied to under-water illuminatingdevices for a. swimming pool 6 formed "of concrete or other substantialand permanent material 8. The inner faces of the walls and bottoni ofthe pool may be lined with tile or other material as indicated forexample at 10.

i A The apparatus zmay be bestv applied to the pool during itsconstruction, the same coni- -prisinv a wall housing l2 formed w1th anopen face 13 and a rearward closed portion 14 of slightly reducedproportions. The open exposed edge .13 is preferably arranged sub-'ttiallyush with the inner face of 'the wall 8 or its lining, ifemployed. The interlarly for the purpose of more readily absorb- 1929.Serial No. 377,641.

mediate portion of the sidewall of the housing 12 may includey aprojecting flange or bead 15 for more permanently attaching the housingin the concrete or other material of which the wall 8 is formed. Thewall housing includes an opening. at 16 for receiving the lighting cableand its conduit or housing. The housing 12 is further provided with lampsupporting devices indicated generally at 18. These devices, in thepreferred form ofthe invention, include supporting members 20 secured inrecesses at opposite sides of the housing l2. The members 20 are ofgeneral hook shape and are formed with depressions 21 to form socketsfor receiving e5 the supporting lugs 22 mounted upon the opposite sidesof the lighting fixture described in detail below.V l The supportingmembers 2O are shown as facing upwardly-so 4that the fixture may bemoved into place and rest upon the supports.

The lighting fixture indicated generally at l 24 includes a body casing26 of general conical shape and formed with a rearward pur-` tion 28 forreceivingthe lamp socket, electrical conductors, etc., and, with aforward portion 30 for receiving the lens.

The inner face of the casing 26 has arranged thereon a series of radialvanes 32 formed integrally with the casing 26 and 80 projectinginwardlyI toward the light bulb referred 'to below. The vanes 32 extendaround the light bulb, when the same has been assembled, and areprovided particuing the heat from the light and dissipating the samethrough the cooling infiuence of'the water surrounding the fixture 24.It will be understood that the number of vanes or ribs 32 and the exactproportions of the same may be varied withini wide limits incorrespondence with the present invention.

Since the fixture 24 will be entirely surrounded by the liquid (water)from the pool it is necessary to completely seal every por! tion of thefixture to prevent the ingress of the water into the light fixture. Tothis e'nd the lens 34, of any usual lor preferred construction, has theedges thereof sealed by the rubber gaskets 35 and 36 in combination with100 bezel 40 and ring Vcasing 26.

. any suitable 'waterproof com ound, these gaskets and the outer edge oft e lens being received and compressed between the outer lens ring 38and the bezel 40. The edges of the lens are formed with flattenedsurfaces 37 where the same are engaged by the rubber washers 35 and 36,this constructioncompletely avoiding any tendency of leakage atthispoint. The ring 38 is, according to the present construction, drawntoward the bezel 40 and held in position by means of a series of machinebolts 42. The upper portion of the outer ring 38 is provided with ga.supporting handle`44 for facilitating the movement of the fixture to andfrom the wall housing 12.

It will thus be seen that the combined bezel, outer ring 38 and lens 34,may be handled as a unit and attached to or detached from the lightcasing 26 without disturbingthe mounting or the lens 34. `The combinedlens and bezel is shown as attached to the casing 26 by means of aseries of machine bolts 46 which may extend through the ring 38 andbezel 40 and into the outer lens supporting portion 30 of the casing.The portion 30 is formed with a recess for receiving the rubber or othergasket 48 to eiectively seal the space between the bezel 40 and casing26. A guide pin 47 is preferably employed to facilitate the assemblingof the ringv 38, bezel 40 and casing `26. This pin may, as shown in Fig.2, be

rigidlysu ported in the bezel 40, the projecting en sof the pin beingreceived in suitable bore holes formed in the ring 38 and The interiorof the light fixture is formed with a socket supporting plate 50supporting the cable terminals'and light socket 52, the latter receivingthe bulb 54. A refiector 56 encircles the bulb 54 .and is formed withthe spaced parabolic reflecting portions 56a and 566 for scattering therays of light within certain limits as will be readily understood.

Since the housing 12 and fixture 24 will be (positioned beneath thewater level of the bo y of water 6 these parts as well as the 38 areconstructed of noncorrosive materlal, 'for example bronze, so that theapparatus may be used even with salt water without destroying or harmingthe4 fixtureor the'wall housing for the same.

It will be noted that t e support for the fixture 24 is such .that thefixture may be' tilted vertically to vaiytheinclination of the beam oflight. Y The lamp is held in its adjusted position by -devicespreferably carried entirely by the fixture 24. To this end the rearwardportion 28 'of the light fixture is provided with a verticalladjustablerod or bar 58 received in a su stantially vertical opening in one ofthelugs 59 formed on the casing 26. The bar may be held in position by'a set screw 60 or other suitable device.` By adjusting the rod 58vertically prior to etc.

the introduction of the fixture into its position Iwithin the housing12, the angle of inclinatioh of the lamp may be varied as desired.

Power is supplied to the bulb 54 by means of a water-proof cable 62.This cable passes inwardly into the interior of the casing 26 through anopening 63.` The space within the opening 63 which surrounds the cable62 is provided with compressible packing material 64 and an adjustablenut for compressing the packing firmly around the cable 62 to preventleakage through the opening 63. Y

The cable 62 passes upwardly through a cable.k conduit 66 and into acable housing 68v positioned above the water level of the tank. Theseparts likewise are preferably formed of non-corroding material such forexample as brass or bronze. The housing 68 is lformed with sloping sidesand bottom portion so that any liquid which may pass into the same willreadily drain back into the conduit 66 and thence into the tank. Thehousing 68 is of sufiicient proportions to accommodate several feet ofexcess cable which is normally stored therein when the apparatus is inuse. The upper face of this housing is covered by a removable f'loorplate 69. It is preferred that the housing 68 be embedded in theconcrete or other material of which the wall 8 is formed'in order toavoid any possibility of disturbing the conduit 66 or its connections tothe housings 12 or 68.

It will be observed that the terminals (not shown) for receiving theends of the cable 62 are thus maintained out of contact with the waterof the pool. The terminals at the light are sealed within the lightcasing and the power terminals at the housing 68 are yvatrproofed andare above the high water eve In assembling and'installing this ap aratusand after the installation of the liousings 12 and 68 in the wall orotherwise adj acent the body of water 6 the fixture is first completelassembled. In assembling this fixture it 1s provided with the socket 52suitably connected tothe cable 62, the bulb 54, reflector 56, bezel 40,lens 34, packing 64, The mounting for the lens and the opening 63 aroundthe cable 62 are thus completely sealed after which 'they may be testedfor any leakaged The shaft 58 is adjusted to.provide thevdesired angleof inclination for the light beam. The cable 62 may thereafter be passedupwardly through the pipe 66 and connectedto the source of power at apoint adjacentthe cable housing 68. The position ofthel hting fixturewhen completely assembled an .connected to the power cableis indicated"in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The fixture may then be carried downwardlybeneath the water level tofthe wardly through the conduit 66. By asimple movement of the light fixture it is set in place upon the lightsupports 20. Thereafter the cable 62 is arranged within 'the housing 68and the cover 69 placed in posi'- tion over the same. Since the casing26 is entirely surrounded by water the lamp is maintained at a normaloperating temperature due in part to the heat absorbing capacity ofthevanes 32.

If at any time the light becomes out of order as by reason of an injuryto the bulb 54, the same may be readily unhooked from the supports 20and removed to a position above the Water of the pool, after which thelamp may be repaired or replaced. During the removal of the lamp fromits housing 12 the.cable 62 is drawn downwardly through the conduit66vas will be understood from an inspectiony of Fig. 1. again introducedinto the housing 12 the cable is again withdrawn through the conduit 66to a position of rest Within the housin 68.

t will be understood that various modifications may be made in theapparatus without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as my invention is: 1. In an under-water illuminatingdevice v fora body of water surrounded by a stationary Wall having arecess therein positioned beneath the normal water level, a stationaryhousing in said recess, a lighting xture submerged in said water anddetachably supported/within said housing, means for supplying electriccurrent to said fixture and means for detachin said fixture from saidhousing and .removing the sameto a position above said water levelWithout disconnecting said current supplying means from said fixture.

2. In an under-water illuminating device, a support formed as astationary fixture housing positioned beneath the normal level of saidwater, a water-tight electric lighting fixture, means on said fixturefor removably supporting the Vsame on said support with said fixturesubmerged in said Water, extensible means for supplying electric currentto said fixture when supported on said support and when removedtherefrom and Withdrawn to a position remote from saidsupport.

3. In an under-water illumlnating device for a body of water, a fixturesupport, a Wa.-

Afrom said support, said last-named means including a water-proof cableattached to When the xture is said fixture by a water-tight joint, ahousing for excess cable andra iquid-ti ht cablereceiving conduitconnecting sai housing with said body of Water, said cable housing beingconstructed to drain any liquid therefrom into said conduit. A l4. In anunder-water illnminatin device for a body of Water andin combinationwith a retaining yvall thereof, a fixture housing enibeddedin said wall,a fixture support siecured adjacent said housing, a removable electriclighting fixture having meansv engageable with said fixture support, acable housing embedded in said wall above the normal level of said bodyof Water, a waterproof electric conducting cable positioned i in saidconduit and extending from said fixture to said cable housing and formedwith an excess amount'of cable normally positioned in said cablehousing.

5. In an under-Water illuminating device and in combination with a bodyof water to be illuminated, alighting fixture support positionedadjacent said -body of water beneath the Water level `thereof,a lightingfixture removably supported on said fixture support, a cable housingpositioned above the normallevel of said -Water and a cable extendingfrom said `cable housing to a pointA adjacent said fixture support andoperatively connected to said fixture. l

6. In an under-Water illuminating device for a body of Water confinedWithin fixed Walls, a fixture housing formed of non-corroding materialand positioned beneath th normal level of said water, a Water-tightelectric lighting fixture normally positioned Within said fixturehousing, a conduit extending through said wall and terminating Aat apoint above the normal level of said Water and an electrical conductorextending through said conduit to said housing for supplyingelectric'current to said fixture.

7. In an under-Water illuminating device for a body of water, astationary fixture support positioned beneath the normal level of saidWater and exposed to said Water, a lighting fixture engageable with saidfixture support when submerged in said Water, said support and fixturebeing formed with coact-` ing separable supporting elements for readilyattaching and detaching said fixture to and from said support.

8. In an under-Water lighting fixture, an enclosed light casing formedwith bulb-supporting means and with inwardly extending heat-absorbingIprojections directed toward said bulband intimately associated with thematerial of said casing and means for conducting electric current--tog-.said bulb.

9. In an under-water'lightin fixture, an enclosed light casingzformedwith bulb-supporting means and-vvitli` inwardly projecting finsextending' into the interior of said light casingand formed integrallywith said casing and means for conducting electric current to said bulb.

10. In an under-Water lighting fixture, an enclosed light casing formedWith bulb-sup- 5 porting means and with a series of radial inlwardlyprojecting heat-absorbing elements A formed integrally with said casingon the portion of said casing encircling said bulb.

1l. In an under-Water illuminatingr apparatus, a fixture support, alighting fixture pivotally and removably secured to said support,adjustment means carried by said fix ture, said adjustment means beingengageable with said support and adjustable With respect to said fixturefor adjusting the angle of inclination of said fixture when supported onsaid support.

' 12. In an under-Water illuminating apparatus, a fixture support, alighting fixture pivotally and removably secured to said support, meanscarried by said lixture for adjusting the angle of inclination of saidfixture, said means including a vertically adjustable rod rigidlysecured to said fixture l5 and engageable with said support and meansfor holdingr the same in any adjusted position.

13. An under-Water illuminating device for a body of Water surrounded bya stationary Wall having a recess therein positioned beneath the normalWater level, a lighting fixture detachably supported Within said recessand means exterior to said Wall for maintaining electrical connection tosaid fixture while permitting said fixture to be moved to a positionabove said normal Water level.

14. An under-Water illuminating device for a body of Water surrounded bya stationary Wall having a recess therein positioned beneath the normalwater level, a lighting fixture detachably supported Within said recessWhich forms a housing therefor and means for maintaining electricalconnection to said fixture While permitting said fixture to be movedoutwardly from said recess and then upwardly through said body of Waterto a position above said normal Water level. Signed at New York, in thecounty of New York and State of New York, this 10th day of July, A. D.1929.

EDWARD M. ROTHEN.

